Princeton 7-year-old attacked, bitten by dog

Google MapsA 7-year-old girl was attacked by a dog in Princeton Township.

PRINCETON TOWNSHIP – A 7-year-old girl was bitten by a dog that broke its leash and attacked her Saturday afternoon in Princeton, police said.

The child went with her parents to a garden on the grounds of the Riverside Elementary School on Riverside Drive. When they arrived around 11:30 a.m., township resident Dorothy Mullen and a friend were there with Mullen’s German Shepherd, which had its leash tied to a picnic table.

The dog was able to break its leash, run towards the girl and tackle her, which caused a laceration to her back, according to police.

“There was no indication the kid antagonized the dog in any way that would cause it to attack her,” said Sgt. Mike Cifelli.

The parents took the girl to the University Medical Center at Princeton, where police were called shortly afterward. Officers met with Mullen, who has been ordered by the township’s animal control officer to confine her dog at home for ten days while the investigation begins.

“As long as the (dog’s) shots are up to date, in-home quarantine is typical for a case like this,” Cifelli said.

The girl was treated and released from the hospital later in the day Sunday. No charges have been filed.